Ball bearing means for sliding members



Dec' 8, 1931- c. R. vEGR'l-:N ET AL 1,835,125

BALL BEARING MEANS FOR SLIDING MEMBERS Filed Feb. 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l @UK/f,

...Inman fl? l -fvVEA/TO/s- CON/PHD E V55/EEN KENNETH J Toe/N Dec; 8, 1931.

c. R. VEGREN ET AL 1,835,125 BALL BEARING MEANS FOR SLIDING MEMBERS Filed Feb. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 f uNITED'SI-ATES :PATENT )OFFICE CONRADR. VEGREN AND KENNETH .I. TOBIN, or CIIICAGO, ILLINOIS, `AssIeNORs .'ro

CAMEL COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs,.-A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS BALL BEARINeMEANs ron. sLInINGiMMBEns `hepresent invention .relates Vball bearing means'for sliding members. 1

` be described The present; invention will 4 1 with particular reference to sli-ding doorsof railway house cars, though as the descrip tion proceeds it willbe apparent lthat, the' invention is of much broader application.

Y For the purpose of simplifying the. description,however, said description will d proceed with reference'tohouse car doors.

An nobject of the present invention fis to providea retainer `for balls which retainer is applicable to sliding members which Vwill provide Complete Jfreedom for rolling motion and which will eliminate any possibility of'sliding action in the balls. Y

A 'further ob ect is to provide a Supporting member for a siding door, or the like,iwhicl1 operates ratherthan to swing"against'said wall. l.

A further object is to' providea door sup` porting structureV of the ball bearingtype in which ther wearing Vparts Vare Vreduced, to a minimum, thereby reducing the necessity for making replacement or repairs. i

A further ob'ect is lto provide a doorhaving ball bearings which door may*` be'. shipped as a lunit with the rollingelements'of said `ball bearings .self-contained therein.`

A further object is to provi-de a'structure involving a sliding doorand a track memi ber for'saidsliding door,.said slidingdoor being provided with Vball bearings so Y ar-A ranged that a relatively broad bearing surface of said. trae-k member is utilized. ,4

. A further object is to provide a'supportfor a sliding door which supportisfprovided with balls for carrying the weight of said door, said support being so arrangedtthat said balls inthe sliding movements ofsaid doorwill rollabout a countless number of axes, Wherel Further objects will appear as the descrip-k tion proceeds.`

Referringv to the drawingsl Figure l is' a viewof part of the side of a railway house car havingV a sliding door applied thereto,

ported door ;v

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the planeindicated by thevarrows 2-2 of F ig f Figure 3 isa sectional view, on an enlarged scale, `taken along the plane indicated bythe said door being a bottom sup.

arrows 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional View takenalong the ure' 3g Figure 5 1s a Viewv similar toFigure 3, but illustrating a slight nl odlfication;

` Figure' 6 is a sectional view taken along the planeindicated by the arrows 6-"6 of Figure i y f Figure 7 is a top plan viewiof a ball retain# er forming part of the structure illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 6;

plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Fig- Figure 8 isa sectional view taken along c the planes indicatedby the arrows 8-`8 of Figurev 7; i

Figure 9 is a sectional viewtaken along the planes indicated bythe arrows 9-9 of Figure 7 l (Figure 10 is a view in end elevation of the retainer shown in Figure 7; and Figure 11 is asectional View taken along the'plane indicated by the arrows 11--1-1 of Figure 7.

The numeral 1 indicates the sideof a rail'- wa-y house car and the numeral 2 indicates a sliding door. Y The particular door chosen for illustration isl a bottom supported door, brackets 3-3 being securedadjacent to the bottom of said door 2 near the iront and rear edges of said door, which brackets have cooperatively associated therewith ball bearings for engagement with a track `member 4, which Vextends longitudinally .along the car side. 1 l

3o. The differences between the braeketsl and 3a. do not involve any differences in the structure ofthe car or the slidingV door.

rlhe weight of the door 2 is carried by the track member 4, which is shown in the form of a channel having one flange indicated by the numeral 5, secured to the car body by means of brackets 6 shown in part in Figures 3 and`5. The web 6 of said channel provides upon its upper side a flat surface for centactv with a plurality of balls of steel or other hard material, which balls are indicated by the numerals 7 7. lhe outer flange of the track member 1, which outer flange is indicated by the numeral 8. is adapte-fl to be cngaged by the downwardly extending portion 9, which, as indicated in Figure 1, may be bifurcated, the two bifurcations vbeing indicated bythe numerals 10-10. Each bifurcation 10 is provided with the upwar..r ly extending tongue portion 11 underlying` the flange 8. By reason of the engagement between the tongue portions 11-11 and the flange 3, outward swinging movement of the bottom of the door 2 is limited.-

Each of the brackets 3 is recessed intermediate of its heightl for the receptionl of a ball retainer 12. The outlines of the ball retainer chosen for illustration are clearly illustrated in Figures 3 4, 6. T, 8 andi), from which figures it-will appear that said retainerl provides a raceway 13, which is substantially elliptical in contour. The particular retainer chosen for illustration provides space for six balls. The retainer 1 2 is provided with ear portions 14-14 having rivet holes 15.15. Said ear portions 14-14 are adapted to be disposed against corresprnulingr flat portions 16--16 of the brackets 3 and are secured in place by means of rivets IC7-17. The raceway 13, when the door 2 is in place upon the car, has its major axis parallel with the plane of movement of the door 2 and substantially in the same vertical plane as the outer edoje of the track member 4. vIt will be clear, of course, that as the door 2 moved with a sliding movement along the track member 4, the balls 7 will be rolled with a movement of translation with reference to the corresponding retainer 12, traveling around the raceway 13. rlhercfore, the identity of the balls bearing the weight of the door is continually changed as the door is moved. Each retainer 12 is so designed that the balls 7 7 tend to gravitate inwardly, thatis-toward that portion of theraceway 13 which is disposed above the track meno.-

installed upon the car. i mouth 20 of the retainer 12 opens upwardlj-J,

ber 4. This feature is illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, from which it will be noted that the curved seats 18 and 18a, which define the lower limits of the ball 7 in the outer portion of the raceway in said Figures 3 and 5 respectively, are disposed at a higher level than the balls7-7 in the inneilpart'of the racen 13,4 which latter balls bear against theV w'nwardly facing curved seats 19-19. FxpressedinA other language, the parts are so designed that when the retainers 12--12 are in position within the brackets 3 3 and the door2 is in position on the car, the centers of the balls in the outer part of the raceway'13areata higher level than the centers of theiballs in'r the inner part of the raceway 13. From an inspection of Figures 3, 7 and 10, it will be noted rthat the retainer 12 has an upwardly opening mouth 20, through which balls may berinserted into said retainer before said retainer is inserted into its corresponding bracket 3. From an inspection of Figure 3 itwill be noted that the recess in the bracket 3 for receiving the retainer 12,` which recess is indicated by the numeral 21, is provided with the mouth 22, which is open when the` door 2 is free of the car, as for example before the door has been Inasmuch as the it is a simple matter to mount the retainer 12 with the balls loaded therein within the recess 21 of the'corresponding bracket 3, after which the ears 14-14 may be riveted to the portions 1(5-16 of said bracket 3. After the retainer has been secured in place, the door, together with its roller bearings, may be` shipped as a unit and may be mounted upon a car with the exercise of a minimum of skill.

The. structure shown in Figure 5 involves fewer parts than the structure shown in Figure 3, inasmuch as no retainer 12 is contemplated in the structure shown in Figure 5. ItA will be clear thatvthe balls shown in the structure illustrated in Figure 5 will cooperate with the track member 4 in precisely the same manner as that discussed in connection with the structure*illustrated in Figure In shipping the structure illustrated in Figure 5, it will ordinarily be considered goed practice tosendthe balls 7-7 separate from the bracket 3a.. In mounting upon a car a door 2 provided with brackets 3a such as illustrated in Figure 5, the ordinary worker will have no difficulty in litting the balls into their raceway in the bracket 3a.

From the above description it will be noted that the balls roll on andV ofi' the track, one ball pushing the next one ofi'. Due to the fact that the raceway is inclined fromI the outer side of the car inwardly, there will be a continual tendency for the balls to gravitate toward that side 0f the raceway above the track member 4, eliminating any sliding action of the balls. In other words, as the the track member is engaged through a broad bearing surface, whichV bearing surface eX- tends from the outer edge of the track member 4 inwardly to the innermost line of contact with the balls 7 7. By reason of this broad bearing surface on the track'member,

the tendency ot the track member to grooveis very materially reduced, thereby further reducing the hard usage upon the balls.

By reference to Figures 3 and 5, it will be noted that the balls 7 in the inner partot the raceway are under compression leaving no clearance between said balls and the surface above them. The other balls are tree. Asthe door is moved longitudinally of the car and the balls under compression roll successively oil thev track member, they have a tendency to nrge the door laterally away Jtrom the car side. This tendency is not counterbalanc .d by the free rollin balls which are presented successively to thel edge of the track iember. Consequently there is a net tendency to direct the door to a plane in which said door istree of the car side.V

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such inodilications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

That is claimed isl. ln combination, a track member, a sliding member, and means cari'ied by said sliding member comprising a hall race, said ball race having a plurality of balls therein, a portion of said ball race being` disposed above said track member and another portion of said ball race being disposed outwardly ot said track member, the raceway of said ball race being inclined relative to said track member.

2. Vlin combination. a track member, a sliding member carried thereby, said sliding member bei provided with a ball race, a plurality oballs in said race, said race having a portion tor guiding said balls in position. to ride upon said track member and` another portion for guiding said balls out ot cooperative relationship with sait track member, said portions providing a continu` ous raceway, the raceway of said ball race being inclined relative to said track member in a direction to cause said balls tov tend to' gravitate toward said track member.

3. In combination. a track member, a sliding member carried thereby, said sliding member being provided with a ball race having a continuousraceway, balls in said raceway,\part of said raceway being disposed in position to carry said balls in a position .wherein the weight of said sliding member is carriedby the balls in said part of said iaceway, another part of said raceway being disposed in position to guide said balls out ci cooperative relationship with said track member, laterally of said track member, said rball race being tilted relative Vto saidtrack membelz t.' In combination, in a railway house car,

.a trackinember, a sliding door, brackets carried by said door, said brackets being providedVV with portions cooperating with said track member .to limit swinging movement of said door relative to said track member, said'brackets'being provided with raceways',

la plurality et balls in each-of said raceways,

said raceways being in positionv to hold progressively changing balls within said raceyway out of contact with said track member .andto cause said balls to gravltate `toward said track member.V

5. In combination, a` track member of `a railway house car, a sliding door cooperating therewith, brackets carried by said door, said brackets having portions cooperating with said tack member to limit swinging movesnient of said door relative to said track member,at least one of said brackets being provided with a raceway, said raceway having the contour of a closed, cnrvedgeometrical Aligure, a portion only of said geometrical figure overlying said track member.

6.` In combination, a track Vmember of a railway house car, aV sliding door cooperating therewith, brackets carried by said door, said brackets having `portions cooperating with said track member to limit swinging movement of said door relative to said track member, at least one of saidbrackets vbeing provided with a raceway, said raceway Vhaving the contour of a closed, curved geometrical figure, the Vcontour of saidr geometrical ligure being symmetrical, an axis of symmetry being disposed parallel with the edge of said track member, the portionl of said raceway inwardly ot said axis of symmetry being disposed above said track member, the other halt of said raceway being disposed outwardly of said track member. Y

7. ln combination, a track member of a railway house car, a sliding door cooperating therewith, bracketsY carried by sai-d door, i

ff e

ing` disposed parallel vri-rn railway house car, a sliding door cooperating therewith, brackets carried by said door, said brackets havingy portions cooperating' with Vsaid track'member to limitswino'ino' movement of said door relative to said track member, at least one ot said brackets being provided'with a racewa", said raceway having the contour ot a closed, curved geometrical ligure, the contour of said `eon'ietrical ligure being' symmetrical, an axis of symmetry beedge of said track member, the portion oj said raceway inwardly of said axis oil symmetry beingdisposed above said track member, the other haltot said raceway being disposed outwardly of said track member, said two halves of said raceway on the two sides of said axis ofsymmetry beine' dispostal at dililerent lcvels, the onter halt beingT at a higher level than the inner hall.

9. ln combination, a track member of a railvv'ay house car, a sliding door cooperating with said track member, b ackets carried by said door, said brackets providing' a recess opening` downwardly and rearwardly of said brinfket.r a ball retainer adapted to be positioned in said recess and adapted to be secured to said bracket, and a plurality of balls in said retainer' adapted to cooperate successively with said track member.

l0. .ln conlbination.` a track member of a 'fl 'lway house car, a sliding door cooperating` 1h said track member, brackets carried by said doing-said brackets providing a recess opening' downwardly and rearwardly of said bracket` a ball retainer acapted to be positioned in said recess and adapted to .be secured to said bracket, and a plurality oit balls in said retainer adapted to cooperate successively with sa id track member, said balls being` disposed in a raceway in said retainer, wiich raeeway has 'the contour of a closed, curved lgeometrical figure, part of which ligure is disposed above said track member and part of which ligure is disposed outwardly of said track member, said raceway having' the outer part of its contour disposed at a higher `level than the inner part thereof.

ll. In combination.y in a house car, a track member having' an outer edge, a sliding door carried by said t1 ck member, said sliding door being provided with a ball retaining member having an elliptical raceway, the major axis of said raceway being in substantially the same vertical plane as said outer edge, the plane ot said raeeway being tilted relative to the bearing surface of said'track member in a direction to cause the balls Within said ball race to gravitate toward said track member.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, thislst day of January, 1928.

CONRAD R. VEGREN. KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

